There's Always Something...

Responding to People...

Have you noticed the increased degree of disrespect that seems to come with communicating with friends and family on the internet?

I noticed several months ago that really young children and teenyboppers would simply disappear in the midst of chat or instant messaging sessions. Gone! Then the same thing began to happen with older kids and even adults. No "bye" or "got to go" or whatever. Just a quick vanish in the midst of a seemingly nice conversation. Leaves one feeling like a doddering ass.

I confess that after two or three of these, I removed them from my buddy list.

But it goes further than that. One of my sons recently discontinued his blog and then went on to cutting every name from his FaceBook page that had never responded to him in any way. He sees communication as a two-way relationship. That makes some sense to me. Unanswered emails, phone messages, are just accepted practices with some people. Eventually, they do pay a price. Receiving personal stuff without offering any response at all over a period of time eventually communicates the same thing. Disrespect. I'm with Pete all the way.

Blogs are different. Some of us read up into hundreds of them regularly. They are written and received as common offerings. Comments aren't really expected or generally received. It is good when it happens!

Pete's made me think.

When we are face to face with one another - or even to lesser degree - on the other end of a telephone line, it is harder to disappear and consequently more open to civility and real communication. Being with each other over the internet is much quicker, less demanding and prone to thoughtless impersonal discourtesies.

Remember the movie of a decade ago where a character kept going to his window, leaning out and shouting something like: "I'm damned sick and tired of all this and I'm not going to take it any more!" I loved that, but was not sure why. I'm beginning to see the light.

That's what Pete was trying to say - and I line up right behind him and shout in old fashioned Methodist style; "Amen, Brother! Amen..."

Sweet Spirits...

There has been plenty going on these past 8 years to turn a spirit sour. Sometimes it seems as if things are irreparably damaged. Individually there isn't much one can do to make a difference, that is in the total picture. I do believe, however, that it is possible to touch a few people and make things better.

It starts by making peace within oneself. Things never get so bad that they can't be improved a bit. Focus life on things good, true and beautiful. Try to keep from being dominated by negative personalities, subjects and situations. Find a few people who are happy, wholesome and authentic and spend some time kicking back with them. Think back on activities that made you extremely happy and see it they can't be rediscovered.

Pet a dog. Read a fine book. Listen to some music you love. Try a hearty laugh or at least a big smile.

You'll see.

Jobs and Salaries...

Word comes that Panasonic Corporation is cutting 15,000 jobs.

Another that baseball player Manny Ramirez has turned down an offer of $25,000,000 for a one year contract.

Something is wrong. Uh. I think maybe I'm going to go crazy. Easiest way out.

Inauguration's Best Line...

In my opinion, that is...

Speaking of our religious heritage, President Obama called it exactly as it is - and as it should be - in this religiously diverse nation:

"We know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers."

One of the great mistakes of the Bush administration was the assumption that if one wasn't a Christian, a right-wing Christian at that, one was simply not fully American. From the get-go, we now get a realistic vision of who we are. So refreshing. So obvious. So true.

Energy and Politics...

Watching the politicians in action during this past year has been an adventure in itself. Especially the Obamas, who seem to have an inexhaustible treasury of energy. They are the incarnation of energizer bunnies. They never seem to wear down.

I was looking at their schedule for today's inauguration. Up at dawn. On the go in the public eye all day long. Probably dance til dawn tomorrow. After that, the action begins. This has been going on for them for 2 years!

It's amazing. I simply can't imagine how they do it. Younger people seem to tire easily these days. To elders like me, the whole thing is incomprehensible.

But there's a valuable lesson here.

When it comes to electing future presidents, energy and stamina are important matters to consider. Political athleticism is one theme for future politicians to keep in mind. To say nothing of the voters.

Farewell "W"...

As I write this, George Bush has only 24 hours left in office. I make no secret of my joy and relief. At the same time I resist the temptation to pile on at this phase of the game. I believe that history will make its own evaluations and perhaps some of the darker side of the administration will surface in the future - as it has with the Nixon presidency.

The incoming administration will be greeted with unprecedented problems and unbelievable hope. The whole world looks forward to better things and better people. The United States stands together at attention. It is a good time.

Warm is Good...

The weather has dominated the news these past few days. It's cold up there. In the North, that is.

I watch the pictures and hear the complaints and remember, almost with a warm nostalgia, my days in Wisconsin, Connecticut, Illinois and Nebraska. The snow and cold were fun times, as I remember. Of course, that is not 100% accurate, but who cares.

I feel almost, but not quite, guilty as I dress in Shorts and T'shirt andI prepare for another fine day in the Valley of the Sun. My garden vegetables, tomatoes, lettuce, beans and spinach are peeking through the soil and enjoying the delicious sun. As are we!

The temperatures will be in the mid to upper 70's all week. Life is good. Warm is wonderful.

One picture of a fellow in Chicago got to me. He was scraping ice off his car windshield. He looked so miserable. He was miserable. I know he was - because I do remember that. All the nostalgia disappeared and suddenly I was happy to be In Arizona.

Warm is better.

Living Through a Recession...

I would guess that most of us have had some financial set-backs in the past year or so. We certainly have.

We read about people losing their jobs and having their homes foreclosed and think on what this kind of thing might mean. It is more than scary. It is soul-wrenching.

Over the post-Reagan years we have heard frequent comments on "trusting the market" and never really understood what that meant. It seemed another harmless political platitude. And in fact, it is a platitude, but anything but harmless. Not until recently did we think about it enough to realize that trusting the market actually means trusting the people who control the markets. And sadly, as all of us are beginning to see, they are not to be trusted. The rich and powerful have grown increasingly rich, powerful and removed from the folks who make up the world they control.

Anyway, we've been dodging economic bullets left and right. Rumor comes down regarding some economic catastrophe ready to come upon us all. We feel the evidence of it on the periphery of our lives, but mostly it blindsides people just a bit less fortunate than ourselves. It leaves us feeling insecure in our own lives and concerned over the predicaments of friends and neighbors who have caught it dead center.

There isn't much the typical person can actually do to take control over financial futures - beyond plugging away - hoping and praying for more enlightened leadership in our government.

But there are a few little things.

Live, as much as possible, within our means. Cut out frills and excesses. See to it that all the family, especially children and youths, share in the concerns and sacrifices called for. This is the long hoped for moment when young people can face up to the reality that their entitlements are cultural and ephemeral as well as road-blocks to maturity. This is the time for them to grow up and pull their share of the sacrifices and the load.

Commit to simplicity and frugality. Let our lifestyles discover the dignity of finding beauty in ordinary things.

Discover and practice compassion for those who are being buffeted by both a disastrous economy and, on occasion, their own poor decisions. No one deserves to be homeless or broke in this land. It is a time for understanding and sharing with one another.

Every time  a bit of bad news comes our way, we seem to follow a similar ritual. We groan and wonder what this might mean. Then we count the exact costs and recognize the adjustments we might have to make. Finally, we simply make whatever change is called for, thankful that we have each other and can have an abundant life, whatever the circumstances might be.

All things can work together for good...

You remember how that goes!

Salary Limitations...

I was reading about Stephon Marbury, inactive guard for the New York Knicks. As the story goes, he became such a problem for the team that the coach simply set him down. This made him mad, of course, so he refuses to play, even if/when the team might need him. Thing is, Stephon has $21,000,000.00 still coming to him on his contract - play or not. Nothing anyone can do.

Then, in the same city, there are the increasing numbers of people who have lost their jobs, their homes, everything. No entitlements for them.

Makes me wonder if part of our problem may be an unmentioned issue. How much money should any person be allowed to make/keep without infringing upon the rights of ordinary people?

Is anyone in our country really worth 5 million dollars a year? 10? 15? I read the other day that LeBron James, probably the best basketball player on the planet right now, would probably command a salary in excess of 30 million dollars in two years when his present contract expires. Is anyone worth that?

I think not. I don't see how a ceiling on income could ever be set in this country. It does seem possible, however, that huge taxes for the wealthiest might even things out a bit and help lesser beings have a bit more dignity and security in their lives.

So, maybe 50% tax on anything over $5 million. 75% on anything over $7.5 million. 95% on anything over $10. You get the picture. So Stephon would have to pay - what? - 95% tax on $11,000,000.00 in addition to the taxes he would pay on his first $10,000,000.00. Seems a lot to pay, but keep in mind that he doesn't have to do anything but show up and sit on the bench to keep what's left.

And think what the school districts, the medical care facilities, the crime prevention, etc. etc could do with Stephon's contribution.

"To promote the general welfare..." Great line. Not a bad thought or unhealthy direction.

Lost Money and Careful Investing...

We were leaving the grocery this morning when a woman I didn't know struck up a conversation regarding her investments. She was pretty upset. Said she had lost 33%  of her retirement nest-egg, which was only $200,000 to start with. Everything was going to hell in a hand basket for her. I wasn't exactly sure how to respond so I gave her a therapeutic smile and just listened for a spell.

30% of our nest-egg is gone. I think that must be the story right across the board among retirees. Probably so with everyone else who has money set aside as well.

I think this is a pretty good time to unload some of the riskier holdings, taking a capital gains loss for one's tax picture and replace them with nice conservative stocks like Johnson and Johnson, Coca Cola, General Electric, MMM, Kimberly Clark... You get the idea. That's what we did, anyway.

I have the feeling that this problem is going to take a long, long time to clear up. President-Elect Obama has surrounded himself with some of the finest minds in the financial world and has shown the capacity for listening and acting both aggressively and prudently. Even with this, I would be surprised if we see much relief and recovery for several years.

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